Once dubbed the “Athens of Central America,” Honduras has some amazing sites to see.
It has colonial villages, ancient Mayan ruins, natural parks, and a Pacific and Caribbean coastline dotted with the Bay Islands, a particularly beautiful spot for beach lovers and scuba diving aficionados.
The best part?
It offers all the adventure sports that have put Costa Rica on the map, for at least half the price! This Honduras travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.
Fast Facts
- Honduran power voltage is 110/120 V 60 Hz; Power sockets A & B
The Honduran currency is the Honduran Lempira (HNL) and is around 20 HNL for 1 USD - Beware of Chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. This outbreak continues to affect parts of the Caribbean and Central America. Symptoms can take up to 12 days to appear, but usually begin within 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms generally include fever and joint pain; other symptoms can include fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and rash.
- Malaria is prevalent in all areas of Honduras with an altitude of less than 3,281 feet, and is found in tourist locales like Roatan.
- It is advised to exercise a high degree of caution in Honduras, especially in larger cities, because of the high levels of violent crime. The main thing is being safe at night and avoid wandering the streets alone, especially in big cities.
- Water is NOT potable in Honduras. Drink only bottled water. Tap water may be contaminated. If you order a mixed drink at a bar, ask that ice not be added, since it may have been made from tap water.
Budgeting
Accommodation
Budget – You can book a budget hotel in Honduras for $20 US a night. They may include private rooms, shared bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi.
Mid Range – Mid-range hotels start around $70 per night in Honduras. They may include a restaurant on-site, pool, and spa.
High End – Luxury hotels in Honduras start around $130 per night. They may include a fitness center, spa, and be near the ocean.
Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and Air B&B for the best deals on accommodation in Honduras.
Food
Food:
- Horatcha – This delicious drink is a blend of water, cinnamon, sugar, rice, vanilla, and milk.
- Pupusa – This is a thick tortilla filled with beans, cheese, and pork or you can get it with just cheese and beans.
- Fried yojoa fish – If you love spicy fish, make sure to check out this dish.
- Licuados – This dessert is a mix of honey, milk, and frozen fruit.
Transportation
Getting to:
Flights: You can fly direct to Honduras from cities in North America such as Houston and Miami. There are also many connections from other countries in Central America.
You can check for the best flights to Honduras on Skyscanner.
Transportation:
Buses: You can find buses available around the city and expect to pay around $1-$2 per ride.
Taxis/Uber: Taxis can be an inexpensive way to get around town and typically start around $2-$3, but make sure to confirm the price before getting in, as there are no meters.
Car Rental: There are several car rental companies available through Hertz and Alamo and start around $15 per day.
You can also compare prices here.
Places to Stay
- Paraiso Rainforest and Beach Hotel – This hotel is right on the Carribean Sea, so you’ll have beautiful views every day. You’ll stay in a cottage, and some have suites available for families.
- Real InterContinental – This San Pedro Sula hotel is close to nearby attractions in the city such as the Museo de Antropologia e Historia. Upgraded rooms have butler service available, and a steakhouse is on-site.
- Honduyate – This relaxing hotel is on Lake Yojoa and nearby to attractions such as waterfalls. There’s also a game room, water sports activities, and a kid’s play area.
Packing Tips
Honduras weather is considered tropical on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The country has a dry season, typically occurring between November and March, and a wet season, occurring between April and October.
The Bay Islands and Caribbean coast of Honduras are outside the typical hurricane path, which is between June and November, but they can receive the tail end of tropical storms or hurricanes during this period of time.
- Sarongs – From protecting yourself from the hot island sun, to being used as a towel or keeping cool on a cool night, sarongs are a must-have on your Caribbean vacation.
- The protection basics – Travellers should stock up on the essentials: sun block, mosquito/insect repellant containing DEET or a pyrethroid insecticide, sunglasses and a hat. Bugspray is particularly important in the Bay Islands as sand fleas are a common and can be a huge annoyance.
- Personal safety products – Before leaving for your trip, make sure to pack some personal safety products, like money belts and locks, so that you can keep your valuables safe on your trip.
- Bring a water bottle – water is not potable in Honduras, so make sure to pack a water bottle that is easily refillable, especially if you plan on doing any adventure sports!
See our packing tips: packing tips
When to Go
The best time of the year to go to Honduras is from December to April. This is the time it will be the driest so you’ll be able to enjoy outdoor activities. You’ll also avoid the hottest time of the year, so it’s more enjoyable.
Things to Do
Adventure
- Scuba Dive the Bay Islands – Seahorses, Barracuda’s, sea turtles, nurse sharks, trumpet fish, starfish, whale sharks and stingrays are just some of the things you might come across!
- Zipline – Head out to the jungle to have a ziplining adventure you won’t forget.
Culture
- Copain Ruinas – Visit the western part of the country to visit an old city from the Mayan Empire.
- Colonial Tegucigalpa – This city is a mix of a modern city and a historical city that was founded in the 1500s.
Sights
- Swan Islands – Head to these remote islands for a unique day out in Honduras.
- The Cave of the Glowing Skulls – See for yourself why the skulls in this cave seem to glow.
Booking Resources
Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies.
We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.
We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.
Booking.com: This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It is usually the has the cheapest prices, not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
Trip Advisor: What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation.
Air BnB: Airbnb is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
Skyscanner: This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
Hostelworld: With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
Rome 2 Rio: If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs. I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
Get Your Guide: For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
World Nomads Insurance: When traveling you should always have travel insurance. We do.